Consistency is the key for Bowden

By Jamie Johnson  |   Friday, August 04, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

Clemson Tigers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

When Clemson head Coach Tommy Bowden rubs Howard's Rock and leads the way down the Hill to start the 2006 season, the one thing on his mind will be consistency. Over the last seven seasons in Death Valley, Bowden has energized the orange-clad fans with big wins over the FSU Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes, only to watch the momentum plummet with losses to Wake Forest and Duke. It seems ironic that one of the most levelheaded and consistent coaches in the business would have such problems with consistency on the football field.

On October 28, 2000, the Tigers were 8-0 and No. 5 in the country in Bowden's second season, after winning only nine games the previous two years. Everyone in orange was in an uproar. Well, everyone, but Bowden.

The head coach was quick to respond when asked about all of the hype around the success of the season, "Where we are in that ranking is not important until after the season," said Bowden in his weekly press conference.

More importantly, it may have been his steadiness that saved his job in 2003 after the humiliating 45-17 loss to Wake Forest. Following the loss that dropped Clemson to 5-4, Bowden's first words to his players in the postgame locker room were: "We will beat Florida State next week." That was a very bold statement, considering the Seminoles would enter the game at No. 3 in the country and surrounded with momentum from a huge, dominating win over Notre Dame. That's not to mention the winningest coach in college football, who happened to bear the Bowden name, coached those same Seminoles.

The phrase "cooler heads will prevail" has often been said, but it couldn't ring truer than for Bowden when it comes to big games. The Tigers, led by Bowden, have knocked off sixth-ranked Tennessee, No. 10 Miami in the Orange Bowl, the Seminoles twice and many other ranked teams. Unfortunately, those wins have not sent Tommy's Tigers into the type of seasons that you would expect, due to the surprising upsets that have haunted Clemson.

Bowden knows consistency is key. "Consistency is how you win championships. That's the level of consistency, we are looking for. Now when you have that you have arrived."

So this season, when Bowden is calm and steady in the fourth quarter, look for him to lead his team to victory in the big games. However, the next week, when his team is expected to win big, the Tigers' fans will be hoping his consistency in the locker room repositions itself onto the playing field. With the hype and excitement surrounding the Clemson camp at the start of 2006, it is only expected that Bowden is the first to soothe the optimism.

"The preseason hype we've had before here. So we are going to approach it with cautious optimism, knowing the key poll is the one at the end of the year," he said.

Consistency is the only piece missing from the Clemson program that can take Bowden places the Orange Nation has only dreamed about since the '80s.

- Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our team specific e-mail alerts! Just click on the link near the top right-hand corner of this page...Get more Clemson Tigers coverage at Realfootball365.com
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (4)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report